Lazaro Armenteros | Outfielder

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Baseball America's Ben Badler reports that the Athletics are expected to sign Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros for around $3 million when the international signing period begins Saturday.

There have been mixed reviews on how "Lazarito" has looked during showcases for teams, but everyone agrees that there's plenty of raw ability there. He's only 17 years old and will take a long time to develop, but the A's are evidently willing to buy the expensive lottery ticket. Jul 1 - 5:34 PM

According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, the Dodgers had "a big crew" at a showcase Tuesday afternoon in the Dominican Republic that featured Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros and Cuban second baseman Jose Miguel Fernandez.

Under their new ownership group the Dodgers have become the most aggressive spenders on international talent in Major League Baseball, and Armenteros and Fernandez are among the most popular names on this year's market. Armenteros, commonly referred to as "Lazarito," is a 17-year-old outfielder with a wide variety of scouting reports -- some very promising, some not so promising. At one point there was talk of him commanding a record sum, but that has cooled. Hernandez is a 27-year-old with a MLB-ready profile, but he was granted free agency in late April and remains unsigned. There's always an element of mystery with these Cuban signings. May 24 - 7:51 PM

Charles Hairston is no longer representing Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros in negotiations with major league clubs after he claims his life was threatened by the Dominican Republic-based representative for the 16-year-old.

"Lazarito" became eligible to sign with an MLB team on February 10 and was originally expected to make a decision by then, but there was a conflict between Hairston and the 16-year-old's "buscon" in the Dominican Republic. Hairston claims that he got an invite for Lazarito to attend a team’s spring training facility and visit with a general manager and ownership, but the buscon withheld the travel documents for the outfielder and his parents. Buscones typically take a cut of a player's contract, so Hairston says that the individual was trying to get him to sign as soon as possible rather than consider waiting until the new international signing period begins on July 2. "Lazarito" was expected to command a large bonus, but the alleged threat was enough to drive Hairston away, at least for now. Feb 23 - 3:32 PM

Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Padres have scouted Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros "as extensively as anyone."

"Lazarito" reportedly spent four days at the Padres' facility in the Dominican Republic. The outfielder's agent said earlier Friday that his client is not close to a decision, but it sounds like the Padres will be in the thick of things. Armenteros has also been connected to the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers and Phillies. Feb 12 - 4:34 PM